Words by guest contributor Katie Whelan

An intimate setting is the best place to get sensual, and last Friday night, Doom Flamingo delivered at The Broadberry. Doom Flamingo, the retrofuturistic child of Umphrey’s Mcgee’s, Ryan Stasik, served up deep bass with a heaping side of sweet keys, nasty sax, sultry vocals, and severe beats that brought the entire crowd to the floor; all of them “hungry for love.” With their frontwoman dripping in silver, Doom Flamingo’s sound was nothing short of pure gold. Electric performance goddess and vocal artist, Kanika “Kay Kay” Moore, commanded the attention of fans through her sensuous stage presence and powerful range of vocals. The crowd “sweat themselves free” to favorites like F-16 and moved their bodies to the sound of a dance party reminiscent of the 80’s while the powerhouse sextet lit the room on fire with the classic She’s a Maniac. Keeping the crowd begging for more were bassist, Stasik, Thomas Kenney (guitar), Mike Quinn (saxophone), Stuart White (drums), and Ross Bogan (keys); all champions in their craft at creating a dancefloor frenzy and radically, nostalgic electrovibe that got the whole floor moving to the beat.

All hailing from Charleston, SC, the group is a musical force to be reckoned with. Thomas Kenney’s penchant for engineering well-rounded, eclectic vibes with his affinity for recording globally-appealing yet spacey sounds can be found in the work of Terraphonics. The group, a creation born out of Kenney’s love for world music, takes you on an auditory tour ofthe Middle East and Asia while maintaining a solid base in hip-hop, soul, and jazz. With that kind of skill set, it’s no wonder Doom Flamingo is able to take their fans on an intergalactic DeLorean ride through naughty lyrics, juicy riffs, and thick rhythms. Ross Bogan, also of RoBo Trio, is the perfect copilot for Doom’s cosmic throwback pop party, bringing the funk to the people. As advertised, the Trio brings “super heavy organ funk,” making it impossible for crowds to not let loose and dig the energy of their groovy tracks. But, if there’s one thing Doom Flamingo fans can definitely feel (outside of the group’s enticing party anthems and luscious musicianship) it’s the connection between the six; a sense of community. This seems to be a quality each member values in all of their musical endeavors. Mike Quinn, who’s brought his peak musical pedigree to the stages of The Charleston Pour House and Proof, has worked on collaborative projects such as Moonwalk on Mars, a live music and dance event that not only brought the people to their feet, but brought the people of the Charleston community together for a night of badassery. Moonwalk was a night to celebrate the music of Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars through fresh, local choreography and unique compositions from Yes Lady, the Charleston funk group featuring both Quinn and Moore.

The word has gotten out that Doom Flamingo is a magnetic, energetic, synth-tidal wave of phenomenal party pleasure and first timers were eagerly converted to diehard fans last Friday. With Moore at the visual helm, the crowd anxiously awaited her next movement, direction, and breath. The whole room melted into the sounds of her voice; each fan eager to be her “Doom Bitch.” Of course, everyone needs more sax in their life and Quinn was able to quench that thirst for more withtracks like Runaway.The night ended with a crowd of satisfied, sweaty dancers ready for the next round. One thing’s for sure – Doom Flamingo can start the party, keep it going, get the people moving, and keep them begging for more.